Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Carbon tetrachloride

Urbana City PWS

Carbon tetrachloride, a volatile carcinogenic solvent, has been used in industrial chemical production and as a dry cleaning ingredient. Read More.

Carbon tetrachloride is no longer permitted in products intended for home use in the U.S. In the past, it was widely used as a dry cleaning ingredient, fire extinguishing chemical, pesticide and chemical intermediate for manufacturing refrigerants. Carbon tetrachloride does not break down easily and can remain in groundwater for years. In addition to increasing cancer risk, carbon tetrachloride harms the liver and causes central nervous system depression, irregular heart rate, and kidney damage. Maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride in drinking water has been associated with a risk of birth defects.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

75

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND140ND
2015ND160ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND140ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for carbon tetrachloride was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for carbon tetrachloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to carbon tetrachloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-13A140133287ND
2014-01-13A140165330ND
2014-01-13A140133286ND
2014-04-14A140176306ND
2014-04-14A140186896ND
2014-04-14A140176305ND
2014-06-16A140176309ND
2014-07-21A140076681ND
2014-07-21A140076680ND
2014-07-21A140183351ND
2014-11-10A140191061ND
2014-11-10A140191062ND
2014-11-10A140191063ND
2014-12-15A140213594ND
2015-01-12A150263181ND
2015-02-23A150213593ND
2015-02-23A150217419ND
2015-02-23A150217418ND
2015-04-06A150213592ND
2015-04-20A150231774ND
2015-04-20A150231771ND
2015-06-08A150285249ND
2015-07-27A150191066ND
2015-07-27A150319782ND
2015-07-27A150319781ND
2015-09-14A150231777ND
2015-10-12A150331561ND
2015-10-12A150331563ND
2015-10-12A150331562ND
2015-11-23A150331829ND
2016-01-04A160338012ND
2016-01-04A160338001ND
2016-01-10A160338004ND
2016-01-10A160338005ND
2016-04-04A160285247ND
2016-04-04A160319777ND
2016-04-04A160338007ND
2016-04-18A160285251ND
2016-07-05A160374796ND
2016-07-11A160374801ND
2016-07-11A160374800ND
2016-07-18A160399647ND
2016-10-17A160374797ND
2016-10-17A160374804ND
2016-10-17A160374805ND
2016-11-07A160453202ND
2017-01-23A170474812ND
2017-01-23A170474811ND
2017-01-23A170469461ND
2017-03-06A170474817ND
2017-04-17A170476837ND
2017-04-17A170476838ND
2017-04-17A170474821ND
2017-04-24A170487461ND
2017-07-10A170487458ND
2017-07-10A170451951ND
2017-07-10A170487462ND
2017-09-05A170487467ND
2017-11-13A170512254ND
2017-11-13A170512255ND
2018-02-26A180570897ND
2018-03-05A180570900ND
2018-05-21A180600455ND
2018-06-18A180600452ND
2018-08-20A180570893ND
2018-08-27A180600449ND
2018-11-128K01359-01ND
2018-12-038L00023-01ND
2019-02-259B02771-01ND
2019-02-259B02773-01ND
2019-04-239D02902-01ND
2019-04-239D02936-01ND
2019-06-249F03503-01ND
2019-08-269H03995-01ND
2019-08-269H03995-03ND